GiftCard Partners Blog

Volunteers are a crucial part of the holiday season and it’s important not to forget about all that they do. Many take the time out of their own busy lives to give back to their communities, asking nothing in return. Here are a few simple, yet thoughtful volunteer appreciation gift ideas to thank those volunteers this season:

Gift cards are a hot topic when it comes to corporate rewards, employee incentives, customer loyalty, fundraising programs and more. Still many are asking, “Are gift cards the right choice?”
The Retail Gift Card Association answers the question with the strong YES, according to the findings in their most recent survey. The survey asked over 1,000 consumers about their attitudes, behaviors and preferences when it comes to both receiving and giving gift cards. Here are a few interesting statistics that encompass the over feeling towards the plastic money gift:

Many nonprofits utilize gift cards as recognition and incentives for donors, staff, volunteers, and the strategic partners that keep them afloat. Some nonprofits are charities or service organizations; all with tight budgets. However, regardless of budget, incentives play an important role in motivating constituencies to maintain the critical behaviors that keep the nonprofit working and alive. Corporations regularly utilize incentives as good business practice and the nonprofits that follow suite find great rewards. They remain top of mind for the people they need most. One 501c3 organization that responded to GCP’s Gift Card Usage Survey, advocates for physically and mentally challenged adults, and they offer gift cards to employees as workplace incentives and as holiday gifts. They stated, “Our employees are very passionate about the work that they do providing support for individuals with
disabilities, so it is nice to be able to provide a little incentive for them.” The Points of Light Institute states that National Volunteer Week is about “inspiring, recognizing and encouraging people to seek out imaginative ways to engage in their communities”. How will you continue to inspire and reward your volunteers, donors, and constituencies? Is your nonprofit looking to incent, engage, and reward with volunteer incentives? 
Download our Incentives in the Workplace eBook to learn strategies and real organizations’ stories of how they use gift cards to incent, motivate, recognize and reward volunteers and donors.

I’m a native Rhode Islander and proud that CVS hails from Little Rhodie. I’m also a Boston Lover, living in Boston proper and the suburbs for almost 20 years. I love seeing generosity for special support projects, but this one touches our hearts at GiftCard Partners with our headquarters located approximately ½ through the Boston Marathon Route. CVS/pharmacy is our client and we seek to represent the best of the best retailers in the U.S. to promote and sell their gift cards into the B2B market. We are very proud of how our client has stepped up in support of the victims and families affected by the Boston bombings. CVS Caremark and CVS/pharmacy has donated over $750,000 to
The One Fund Boston. Proud to be local to this wonderful place and all the companies and people willing to help! Check out:
CVS Caremark Donates Over $750,000 to The One Fund Boston Month-long in-store fundraising campaign in Boston-area CVS/pharmacy locations raises more than $650,000 to support victims of Boston Marathon attack CVS Caremark's private foundation previously donated $100,000 to The One Fund Boston

As you commit to volume gift card purchases for your loyalty & rewards programs or corporate employee programs, you want to know that the public thinks highly of the brands you include.
Boston Market is ranking high on the list of fast-casual restaurants this holiday season and it’s sure to hold strong into 2013. Check out Boston Market’s recent record sales news:
Home Style Restaurant Chain Achieves History-Making Sales During Its Busiest Week of the Year and you will see not only great sales results for the company, but the value they offer to families across the U.S. In an effort to support the New York and New Jersey victims of Hurricane Sandy, Lowe’s distributed more than 22,000 FREE family meals from Boston Market, serving 136,000 people affected by the storm. This resulted in Boston Market’s single largest order in their history. GCP is proud to offer Boston Market gift cards to those buying in bulk.